Jokers are Wild: Can Netanyahu Deal Himself a Winning Hand?

Vivian Bercovici breaks down the parties vying for portfolios in Netanyahu's coalition negotiations – and the roadblocks he still needs to clear.

It’s now exactly three weeks since President Isaac Herzog handed PM-elect Benjamin Netanyahu the mandate to form a governing coalition. With Likud commanding the largest bloc of seats as well as securing the support of 29 MKs from other right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, many thought the negotiations would be a cinch.

Unlike many, I did not think thi…